SOMETIMES THE BRAND YOU THINK YOU KNOW - IS NOT ALWAYS THE BRAND YOU ACTUALLY KNOW!

Cruelty-free living is easy! I have done all the ground work for you. 

Please don’t turn a blind eye to what is going on in the world when it comes to animal testing. After reading this document you will be educated on how you can help and what products to avoid.

Take a look at the images below that are so familiar to us.  Kimberly Clark use images of puppies to advertise their toilet paper and Procter&Gamble choose cute bears.  Unilever uses a dove to market Dove products – yet these companies test their products on animals!  Shows how advertising actually works!!!!!:

If you would like to take a look at the more realistic images of what these companies represent go to: http:// www.stopanimaltesting.com (NOT for sensitive viewers!)

Animal experiments are not only cruel but also unreliable, dangerous, and bad science. We know that non-animal tests are less expensive and that they are better at protecting human health. The U.S. government's own scientific advisory board, the National Academy of Sciences, has concluded that many animal tests are useless and should largely be replaced by superior non-animal test methods. But even with that recommendation, animal testing continues!

My information was gained from the following animal anti cruelty organizations:

 The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) www.leapingbunny.org.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organization in the world.  www.CaringConsumer.com.

If you see Marley’s purple paw print next to a product - it is a vegan product, and does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.

www.animalrightsafrica.org
www.naturewatch.org
www.stopanimaltesting.com
www.gocrueltyfree.org
www.furisdead.com
www.buav.org

I AVOID: L'Oréal Professional, L'Oréal Paris, Maybelline, Pantene, Max Factor, Covergirl, Johnson&Johnson, Lancome, Clairol, The Body Shop (owned by L'Oréal), Redken, Shu Uemera, Vicky, Kerestase, Garnier. These are just a few brands!!

I NEVER purchase a make-up product that is not from a cruelty-free source.  I don’t even temp myself by shopping around. The companies I do support have amazing variety and quality anyway, so I am not missing out.  You could do the same?

My TOP CHOICES in cruelty-free make-up brands are: (Brands marked with a * make it their priority to be 100% committed to cruelty-free)

www.pmu.co.za – Is also a professional brand used by make-up artists in South Africa and available on line. High quality formulas.
www.barrym.co.uk – Fun, colourful range, well know for loose shimmer shadows.  Available in the U.K. and on line.
www.toofaced.com – Trendy, interesting brand with great formulas. Available worldwide.
www.stilacosmetics.com –  High quality professional brand, available worldwide – fresh, fun image.
* www.afterglowcosmetics.com – Focuses on pure and natural make-up products.  Available in the U.K. and on line.
* www.urbandecay.com – Edgy and diverse make-up brand with high quality formulas.  Available worldwide and on line.

If you purchase Smashbox on line, purchase via the PETA Mall website and PETA will receive a percentage of your purchase, at no extras cost to you.
www.petamall.com

Estee Lauder is available in almost every town and city worldwide, making it a perfect choice for my list.
Eyeslipsface Cosmetics (ELF)  www.eyeslipsface.com
ELF is available in the U.K., Sweden, Denmark, Norway and U.S/Canada every product they sell is ONLY one dollar in the US, which is hard for any other brand to beat! 
BrandedJ  www.brandedjcollections.com
BrandedJ is available online and is a fully cruelty free brand. 

Companies who specialise in cruelty-free make-up brushes are:
www.brandedjcollections.com
www.afterglowcosmetics.com
www.eyeslipsface.com (ELF)
www.urbandecay.com
www.toofaced.com

Mac and Stila Cosmetics confirmed that their brushes are from a cruelty-free source. They use real animal hair, which is a by- product (i.e. hair is taken from the underbelly of the goat, the mane/tail of the pony, etc) However, their sable hair brushes I would not imagine come from a cruelty-free source.  Sable hair comes from a weasel-like mammal and is used to make eye makeup, lipstick and eyebrow/eyeliner brushes. It is my understanding that the hair is taken from the tail of these animals., but I do think they are caged because these animals are only live in Russia, Poland, Siberia and Japan.  They are sort after in the fur trade - for art brushes and for this reason I feel the conditions where they are kept must be very unsatisfactory.

Making the change to cruelty-free products takes no effort at all:

I switched my shampoo and conditioner from L'Oréal Professional to Natural Mente www.naturalmente.co.za which is a 100% natural range containing no petrochemical fertilisers or pesticides. The packaging is also biodegradable which is great. At the time I discovered Natural Mente hair care products (which by the way is a professional brand sold in hair salons) I did not realise the have a full skin and body care range. Now I use only their products on my face, body and hair. It's great knowing I am not using any chemicals on my skin and the quality of the product is also outstanding. Give it a try!

Burt’s Bees www.naturalmente.co.za and Kiss My Face www.naturalmente.co.za are other great skin and body care ranges out there. Burt’s Bees can be purchased at very good prices from the following website: www.naturalmente.co.za

White Rain Products are also natural and cruelty-free www.naturalmente.co.za

I clean my home with vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice which work very well, I also look for non chemical based house hold cleaners.  Health shops in your area are a good place to start to find natural, cruelty-free cleaning products.  Your local super market might also stock these brands – ask around.
Mrs Meyers are natural and cruelty-free cleaning products: www.mrsmeyers.com

Personal hygiene products are also easy to replace:
* Cruelty-free razors, shaving cream, wax, mouth wash, toothpaste is all available from www.mothernature.com.

* Tampons, pads and wipes are available from www.naturacare.com  better than the alternative – bleached toxic commercial brands.

If you wear contact lenses there IS a cruelty-free contact lens solution available. www.clearconscience.com. Contact lens solutions are tested on rabbits, this is the affect on their eyes: